Automatic alarm-valve.



D- WILHAMS.

AUTOMATIC ALA RM VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED 'MAR. 28, I9l6.

1,210,242.- Patented. Dec. 26,1916.

an" f W or STA;

i e i :oAvIn WILLIAMS,'OF NEW onnnnivs, Louisiana.

Specification of Letters Patent.

A UTOMATIO ALARM-VALVE.

Patented Dec. 25, 1916.

Application filed March 28, 1916. Serial No; 87,317.

To all whom it, may concern:

sprinkler systems to extinguish fires, said valves being primarily intended to permit of a flow of water to a suitable alarm device, ofan electrical or mechanical nature for operating the same whenever the valve is opened by reason of the operation of one or more of the sprinklers in the system.

The invention consists in theprovision of a main valve located in the. supply line to the sprinklers, which valve is adapted to open a second valve upon operation of one of the sprinklers to permit of a flow of water to the alarm device, and it isone object of the invention to so arrange these valves that the secondary valve will act as a retardlng means for the main valve upon initial operation of the device to prevent breakage of any part of the valve as an en tirety, due to the rush of water under pressure through the valve when one i of the sprinklers is operated and to thereby obviate the necessity of what is known as a .retarding chamber in valves of this charactor and which has heretofore been pro-. vided for the purpose mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a valve of this character which will be so constructed as to permit of a free swinging movement of the main valve to its outermost limit of movement afterit is operated to open the secondary valve.

Another object is to generally improve and simplify the constructionof valves of this character and to provide for increased eiliciency of the same and, at the same time minimize the cost of manufacture.

A further object is to provide avalve of this character which. will be efi'icient for use in steam or air pipe lines, as well as in water lines. i p l With the foregoing and other objects in view, the'inventionconsists in the novel features of construction, combinationv and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed. I

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the lmproved valve;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section therethrough;

Fig, 8 is a fragmentary vertical section of a slightly modified form ofvalve.

Referring to the drawlngs by numerals,

- wherein is illustrated the preferred embodi- ;ment of my invention, 1 designates the casing of the improved valve which is provided with a transverse partition 2 forming a seat for the flap 3, the partition being provided with an'opening to permit of thewater or other fluid passing through'the inlet opening 4. and intothe casing to pass by the partition so as to flow through the distributing openings 5 which are ofany desired number and which are arranged to the opposite side of the flap from the inlet opening, it being understood that an inlet pipe from any suitable source is to be connected with the inlet to the valve and that the outlet openings are to be provided with distributing pipes which have the sprinklers of any well known construction arranged therein.

' The upper end of the partition 2 is provided with an enlargement 6 which is formed as an integral part of thecasing and partition, this enlargement being located to that side of the partition adjacent the outlet opening 5. The lower edge of this enlargement is provided with a knuckle 7 on either side of which are 1 adapted to :be arranged the brackets 8 formed uponthe flap 3, a pin 9 being passed. through alined openings in the knuckle and brackets to pivotally support theiiap for swinging movement toward or away from the seat. y

In order to provide means to permit of assembly of the flap withjthe enlargement, threaded openings 10 are formed in the sides of the valve casing in alinement-with the openings in the knuckle and through either of these openings the pin 9 is adapted to be passed, when it is'desired to insert the same within the openings in the brackets and knuckle, plugs 11 being then threaded in the openings to close the same and provide abut- A vertical bore 12 is formed inthe enlargement 6 and thisbore is reduced adjacent its lower end as at 13 to provide a shoulder 14, the upper end of this bore being threaded eter throughout the major portion of its length to snugly engage with the bore 12, the same being reduced at its lower end, as

at 16, so as to be received by the reduced portion 13 of the bore when the sleeve is arranged therein, the shoulder provided by reducing the lower end of the sleeve being adapted for engagement with the shoulder 14 of the bore to limit the downward movment of the sleeve therein. This sleeve is of a length slightly less than that of the bore so that when the nipple 17 is threadedly engaged with the upper end of the bore, its lower end will engage with the upper end of the sleeve and thus lock the same within the bore, the nipple being provided with a coupling 18 from which the pipe line 19 leads to a suitable alarm device such as a water motor or the like connected with a bell.

The sleeve 15 is provided with a central bore 20, which bore is enlarged at its lower end, as at 21, said enlarged portion communicating with a reduced portion 22, through which the valve stem 23 is slidably arranged. This valve stem carries at its upper end a ball 24 which is of a diameter to be snugly received by the bore 20 within which it is slidably arranged.

A transverse opening 25 is provided in one side of the sleeve 15 and the sleeve is adapted to be arranged within the bore 12 so that this opening will aline with a passage-way 26 in the enlargement 6. The ball 24 is adapted to engage with a seat 27 formed upon the lower end of the nipple 17 to prevent the passage of water, air, steam or the like from within the valve casing through the passage-way 26 and through the nipple 17 into the alarm pipe line, the pressure of the fluid within the casing acting to hold the ball in its seated position due to the fact that the opening 25 and passageway 26 are located below the valve seat for the ball. The brackets 8 are connected by a bar 28 which has extending therefrom a pair of spaced arms 29 which are adapted to receive therebetween the outer end-of the valve stem 23 between a collar 30 and a nut 31 which is carried adjacent the extreme outer end of the stem. When the flap 3 is in a closed position, that is, in engagement with the seat of the partition, the arms 29 will engage with the collar to hold the same in engagement with a seat formed at the lower end of the sleeve 15 so as to prevent a passage of fluid from within the valve casing through the passage-way 26 and thence downwardly about the valve stem and out through the opening 22. Upon outward swinging movement of the flap 3, however, the arms 27 will engage with the nut 31 and cause the valve that the flap is normally in engagement with its seat due only to the action of gravity.

After the flap 3 has been swung outwardly to a position which will cause the ball 24 to be moved below the opening 25, the curved end faces of the arms29 will permit of a full outward swinging movement of the flap without causing a further downward movement of the valve stem. By this arrangement the valve 24 is positively operated upon opening of the flap 3 and, at the same time, the flap is permitted to open to its full extent. It is to be noted that as the flap 3 moves outwardly the ball 24 is moved downwardly against the pressure of the water or other fluid within the valve casing so that upon opening of one of the sprinklers, the valve 24 will act as a retarding means for the flap to prevent breakage of any part of the valve upon such initial operation. By the time the flap 3 has opened a suflicient distance to avoid danger of breakage of any of the parts of the valve, the ball will have been moved below the passage-way 26 and into engagement with the enlarged portion 21 of the bore of the sleeve. This will permit any water or other fluid within the bore to flow freely around the outer faces of the ball 5' and pass out through the pipe line 19.

lVhere the valve is adapted to be placed for operation in a steam or air line, the bore 22 of the sleeve may be provided with a. packing material, as indicated at 32 which may be drawn into clamping engagement with the stem by means of a nut 33 threaded upon the lower end of the sleeve. This will effectually prevent the passage of any fluid under pressure through the opening 22 from one side of the partition to the other.

If desired, also, the nut 31 may be dispensed with and a member 34 substituted in its place. U-shaped yoke having the arms thereof arranged one to either side of the valve stem so as to be engaged by the arms 29 when the flap 3 is swung outwardly, such yoke being pivoted to the stem, as indicated at 35, so

that when the arms 29 engage therewith, the yoke will be permitted to swing to prevent any tendeney of the arms 29 to cause the same to bind with its guide opening and thus avoid its eflicient operation. The

This member 34 consists of a upper faces of the arms of the yoke'34 are preferably curved downwardly at their forward ends, as indicatetd at 36 so that as these arms swing rearwardly upon engagement of the arms 29 therewith, such curved surfaces will be engaged by the arms 29 to provide for a free uniform movement of the same. Lugs 37 are formed on the same and engage with the arms of the yoke to limit their swinging movement in an out ward direction, such lugs in no way interfering with an inward swinging movement of the arms as will be understood.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, operation and advantages of the improved automatic alarm valve will be clearlyunderstood and while I have herein shown and described certain, specific embodiments of my'invention', I do not wish to be limited thereto, except for such limitations as the claims may import. For instance, it will be obvious that the upper of the openings 5 maybe closed by a plate to be removed when it is desired to remove, insert or repair parts of the valve, and that the seat for the flap 3, instead of being. formed as an integral part of the partition 2, may be formed from some other material, such as brass, and may be secured to the partition in any desired manner. The opening, indicated at 38, is adapted to serve as a means whereby the casing may be drained, and this opening is to be closed normally by a plug of any desired description.

I claim I i 1. The combination with a valve casing and a main valve normally closing the passage through said casing, said valve casing being provided with an auxiliary outlet passage; of a secondary valve normally sustained in position by the pressure of water through said auxiliary passage to close the outlet end of the passage, said secondary valve having a stem, and means on the main valve having an initial movement with i said valve independently of the secondary valve and adapted to operatively engage the valve stem and move the secondary valve to its open position whereby the movement. of the main valve to its full open position is retarded by the water pressure through the outlet passage.

2. The combination with a valve casing and a valve normally closing the passage through said casmg, said valve casing having an auxiliary outlet passage; ofa secondary valve normally sustained in position by the water. pressure through the outlet passage'to close said passage, said valve having a stem and an abutment on the end of said stem, and a bifurcated arm on the valve casing.

' ary valve being normally sustained. bythe water pressure through the outlet passage in position to closesaid passage, the casing of the secondary valve having an opening communicating with the interior of'the main valve casing, and means operatively connectlng the main valve and the secondary valve and permitting of an initial 1nde- Y pendent opening movement of the main valve and 'a subsequent movement ofthe secondary valve against the pressure of water through the outlet passage whereby thefurther opening movement of the main valve is retarded, the water collecting in the casing of the secondary valve draining through the opening. thereof into the main 4. The combination with a valve casing and a pivoted flap valve normally closing the passage through said casing, said casing having an auxiliary outlet passage; of a secondary valve'casing mounted in the main casing and having a bore communi 10 eating with said passage and .with the interior of the main valve casing, a secondary valve normally held in its closed posi: tion bythe pressure of water through said outlet passage, a stem connected to the 1 5 of thefiap valve movable independently of the valve stem in the initial o'pening movement of theflap valve andadapted to subse- I quently engage the abutment and move the secondary valve to its open position against the pressure of water through the outlet passage whereby the further opening movement of the flap valve is retarded.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID. WILLIAMS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. I I v 

